Review: Mountain House Backpacking Meals
Mountain House is a go-to for backpackers, yet I’d never tried their meals, so I recently sampled multiple options – including three new flavors. From creamy comfort food to some misses, here’s what I thought about each.
About Mountain House
Mountain House’s parent company, Oregon Freeze Dry, began developing meals for the military in the 1960s. Based in Albany, Oregon, they launched the Mountain House brand in 1969 to provide backpackers with shelf-stable freeze-dried meals that last up to 30 years. Today, Mountain House remains one of the most popular options for backcountry meals.
Beef Stew
Tasting Notes: The Mountain House Beef Stew is a classic homestyle meal that reminds me of the hearty Midwestern cooking I grew up with. The flavor is spot on, just like I remember homemade beef stew tasting. The beef rehydrated well, there are plenty of vegetables, and the thick, savory gravy-like sauce gives it a satisfying texture without being watery. It is on the light side as far as calories and protein, so I’d definitely need to eat the full meal and not split it in half.
Final Thoughts: This meal will be coming with me on a lot of future trips.
- calories: 420 | protein: 20g
- my rating: 4.8 out of 5
- price: $12.49
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Chicken and Dumplings
Tasting Notes: One of Mountain House’s staples, this meal delivered true comfort food. The sauce was thick and creamy, with tender chicken, fluffy dumplings, and a nice mix of carrots and peas. Everything rehydrated perfectly, and the flavor felt authentically homestyle. The balance between meat, dumplings, and vegetables was just right.
Final Thoughts: A standout option — definitely something I’d pack again for cold nights or long days.
- calories: 600 | protein: 36g
- my rating: 4.8 out of 5
- price: $11.99
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Korean Inspired Beef
Tasting Notes: This new meal from Mountain House had a pleasantly mild, bulgogi-style flavor—just enough to hint at Korean cuisine without being overpowering. The spice level was low (around 2/5), and the combination of rice, beef, and vegetables was well balanced and rehydrated evenly.
Final Thoughts: A good change of pace. I’d definitely bring this one again for variety.
- calories: 580 | protein: 22g
- my rating: 4.5 out of 5
- price: $11.99
Beef Lasagna
Tasting Notes: I love pasta, and this meal really delivered on classic lasagna flavor. Everything rehydrated well, including the beef, and there was plenty of pasta and meat in a rich, cheesy tomato sauce. It is a bit low in calories for a backpacking dinner, so I’d recommend eating the whole package yourself to feel satisfied.
Final Thoughts: Yum! I’ll definitely add this one to my backpacking meal rotation.
- calories: 440 | protein: 22g
- my rating: 4.5 out of 5
- price: $11.99
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Pasta Primavera
Tasting Notes: A great vegetarian option, this Pasta Primavera meal rehydrated well, and the spiral pasta held up nicely — it wasn’t too thin or mushy like in some other meals. The sauce was creamy with a slightly cheesy flavor, though not as strong as I expected. I liked the mix of vegetables, especially the peas, zucchini, and bell peppers, and small bits of broccoli, though there wasn’t much cauliflower. The overall taste was very mild but enjoyable, and I think it could benefit from a little salt and pepper.
Final Thoughts: Lighter on calories and protein compared to other meals, but still satisfying. Would definitely have again.
- calories: 440 | protein: 16g
- my rating: 4 out of 5
- price: $10.99
Kung Pao Chicken
Tasting Notes: I love Chinese food, and Kung Pao is a favorite so I was interested to try this meal from Mountain House. There are large chunks of chicken, plenty of rice, and smaller bits of red bell peppers and zucchini. The flavor has just the right amount of spiciness, but if you are sensitive to spicy hot foods, this might not be for you. I tend to avoid spicy food for backpacking, but this one wasn’t too much for me.
Final Thoughts: Overall, I really liked the flavor and would bring this meal on trips again.
- calories: 580 | protein: 32g
- my rating: 4 out of 5
- price: $11.99
Beef Stroganoff with Noodles
Tasting Notes: This meal is mild and comforting, with a creamy mushroom sauce and small bits of beef and mushrooms throughout. It is a little on the bland side, and I found it could use a little salt and pepper to boost the flavor. While it isn’t quite as rich as Peak Refuel’s Beef Stroganaoff (my favorite), it’s still an easy, satisfying meal I’d eat again.
calories: 440 | protein: 16g
my rating: 3.7 out of 5
price: $11.99
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Creamy Mac & Cheese
Tasting Notes: I tried the Mountain House Creamy Mac & Cheese and found that the pasta rehydrated well, with a good, mild cheese flavor. However, the consistency was too soupy when I used the recommended 1-1/3 cups of water, so I’d use just 1 cup next time. Because of the extra water, the flavor came out a little on the bland side, but adding black pepper and a little salt helped. It had a good amount of calories for one person when eating the full pouch.
Final Thoughts: Good comfort food with a mild flavor. This makes a great lunch on hikes when split in half.
- calories: 620 | protein: 26g
- my rating: 3.5 out of 5
- price: $10.99
View at Mountain House View at REI
Cheesy Beef Enchilada Bowl
Tasting Notes: Flavor-wise, this new meal from Mountain House hit close to a real beef enchilada. It was rich and satisfying, but the composition leaned heavily toward meat and sauce, with very little rice and beans. For me, it needed more to round out the texture and make it feel like a complete meal.
Final Thoughts: Tasty but unbalanced and not a favorite.
- calories: 660 | protein: 32g
- my rating: 2.5 out of 5
- price: $11.99
Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Bowl
Tasting Notes: I really had high hopes for pizza in the backcountry, but this new meal missed the mark for me. While it was cheesy and had a pizza taste, the pepperoni had a off-flavor that overpowered the rest. I think it would work better with a different meat, like ground beef or sausage.
Final Thoughts: Not recommended. I’d skip this one on future trips.
- calories: 740 | protein: 28g
- my rating: 2 out of 5
- price: $11.99
Final thoughts
Overall, I’m surprised at how much I liked some of the offerings from Mountain House, and I’ll definitely be adding some of these options to my backpacking trip meal plans.
Disclosure: these meals were donated for the purpose of a review.